The aquarium has the wow factor, but needs to improve on the operations side
STAFF Staff were well presented, friendly and approachable. Ride operators were diligent and performed their safety tasks with discipline. Basic English was spoken in much of the park. Service in some areas lacked urgency and needs to improve.
RETAIL Ocean Avenue – the park’s main entry precinct – is lined with retail outlets. It’s the familiar retail range, but the quality of the merchandise is surprisingly good considering the price points. Retail designers have gone to a lot of effort to create a range specifi c to the park. Ride photography is available on four attractions but quality is compromised because photos are printed on paper stock. Camera placement is quite poor.
CLEANLINESS Attendance was relatively low on the day of my visit so staff were not under pressure. On the whole, the park grounds were clean, bins were emptied, restroom staff plentiful and attentive. While the absence of rubbish and the presence of staff are good, a closer inspection revealed a build-up of dirt and grime in corners and crevices. This is unacceptable in a park that’s only a year old and a stark reminder of the power of experienced line management with an eye for detail. In China, air quality is a major problem
and you can already see evidence of pollution building up on external
AM 1 2015 ©Cybertrek 2015
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
Toilets Staff
Cleanliness Value for Money Domestic park rating
7 / 10 8 / 10 5 / 10 8 / 10
8 / 10 International park rating 6 / 10
decorations and facades. Management needs a system to deal with this to prevent the park from looking tired too quickly, which it already does in parts.
DESIGN There’s a great deal to like about the Ocean Kingdom design. From the giant Manta Ray, complete with LED screen underbelly, that spans the entire main street precinct, to the 68-metre (223- foot) whale shark hero sculpture in the background, the scale of Chimelong’s endeavour is impressive. The site takes excellent advantage of its
bayside location on one aspect and the mountain vista on the other. Together, the large-scale design features and Zhuhai’s natural beauty make a truly awe-inspiring arrival statement for guests. Theming is intricate and the colour
scheme is vibrant and eye-catching. Soft landscaping is plentiful with established trees and bushes creating natural shade. There are signs that the paint
scheme is starting to fade. Wear and tear is beginning to show on coloured and textured hard surfaces and the joinery is showing some distress. In the aquarium, exhibits show obvious signs of cracking and spalling in the concrete work and in one instance, an entire viewing window had been removed for “maintenance” after less than 12 months. Combined with the obvious defi ciencies in the water quality, these maintenance issues impact on the overall enjoyment of the experience.
SUMMARY Chimelong’s Ocean Kingdom is certainly a major step forward in theme park development for the domestic Chinese market. However, it takes more than an innovative concept and colourful design to create a truly world-class attraction. In general, where Chinese developments
start with innovative ideas, too often they fail to deliver a quality product due to a lack of experience and attention to detail in construction and operations. As it stands, Ocean Kingdom doesn’t quite deliver a international-standard experience. As long as Chinese consumer
expectations remain relatively unsophisticated in the attractions market, Chimelong may retain its position as a leader. However, once the major international operators establish themselves in China and showcase fi rst-class attractions benchmarked by world-class standards, Ocean Kingdom will need to raise its game to compete. ●
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